University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Football vs. Louisville Post Game Quotes
10/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 17, 2009
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CONNECTICUT POST GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Randy Edsall
Opening Statement:
Well that's a great win, great team win for us today. We got a chance to make a deposit today, so we have four wins in the bank. It's always a lot more fun when you win. I'm very, very proud of all the guys. Today, we had situations, we were in previous this year, and we answered in a different way; that's the way we always want to respond in those situations. Again, I'm very proud of the guys, the way they played, and how they overcame some of the adversity that they had.
On the big plays in the game:
The turnovers were huge. We had the one turnover at the end of the first half, which wasn't good. I probably didn't do a good enough job explaining to Cody (Endres) the situation and I'll take the blame for that. We just wanted guys to be able to make plays and we did; we made plays in the passing game, we had some big plays in the running game, and again, the turnovers on defense were huge.
On the players who were not listed as starters on the preseason depth chart:
That's football and that's life. It's about going out and proving yourself each and every day. Those guys have done that. It doesn't matter where you start, it's were you finish. I think we as a staff, now, feel much better and much more comfortable with who our personnel is and what our personnel can do. We made some changes this week in the depth chart and there are probably going to be some more changes next week based on the performances.
Sophomore Quarterback #12 Cody Endres
On his and the team's performance today:
We went out there and did some big things especially in the second half.
How gratifying was it to see Marcus Easley go for the big gain on the play he had to stretch out for?
It felt good. Marcus has been doing a tremendous job, his confidence is really high right now and he's playing really well. He made a good play on the ball, and that's all you can ask for.
What was going through the team's head after the third quarter ended, after having blown a 10 point lead and 15 point lead?
That's exactly what was going through our heads. All week, the number one motivation was finishing games, which is something we haven't done in the past and we really wanted to focus on that today, and we did.
Sophomore Safety #27 Aaron Bagsby
On the big plays on defense:
It helps out a lot on defense, it makes you play faster. I missed a couple plays out there and that just means there is room to get better.
On the defensive adjustments made for the second half:
Second half, we just went out there and knew we had to stop them on third downs. We had given up too many big plays on third down. Three and out is what defense is all about and we just gave them too many opportunities. We stressed that during halftime and tried to come out and get better.
The team hadn't forced many fumbles this year; how advantageous was that for the defense?
It helps a lot because they could have put points up on the board; they were in position to make a field goal. Any time you get a turnover and take points away from them that's a big thing.
LOUISVILLE POST GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe
How bad did the turnovers hurt today?
"Turnovers were obviously a big part of the game. We turned it over four times, and they only did once. Our defense did a good job at the end of the half of getting a turnover and keeping them from points…We've got to keep possession of the ball better."
What were your thoughts at halftime with the team only down by one and getting the ball back?
"We felt like we had some plays where we could have taken advantage of what they were doing. We were moving the ball down the field. But the bottom line is you can't score if you don't have possession, and we didn't have possession. What made me proud is after we turned it over and they scored, we took it right back down the field and got inside the five-yard line but turned it over again."
Were the fumbles a result of trying to go for extra yardage or not protecting the ball?
"It looked like they just stripped it from my views. For the second one, I didn't even see a replay of that. I'll take a look at the tape when I get on the plane."
What was the problem defensively?
"We didn't do a great job on the perimeter. We've got to be stronger on the perimeter and force the run back into the meat of the defense. We have to tackle better. We gave up some big plays in the passing game on short pass plays. We've got to do a better job of getting the guy on the ground and tackle him."
On Bilal Powell's performance at running back
"I thought he played hard today. I thought he really ran the ball well. He had a couple of catches. The offensive line did a great job creating some seams, and he ran behind those. I'm proud of the way he continued to fight during each possession of the game."
Was this a game that was there to be taken?
"Absolutely. It was 14-13 at halftime. We missed the PAT. It should have been tied up. We moved the ball downfield [in the second half]. We were in the game. It was to be taken, and we didn't. That's my fault."
Quarterback Adam Froman, Jr.
Was it going through your mind during the game that you had completed 16 passes in a row?
"I had no idea. I was more focused on moving the ball down the field and getting into the end zone and scoring points. All of the personal stats and stuff, I check those after the game."
On the play of the Cardinals' offense as a whole
"Our receivers were winning all day long. They were wide open and ran great routes. Our o-line opened things up a little bit. That d-line at UConn has some good talent and good speed, and our line handled them well all day. They gave me plenty of time. It was just pitch and catch to the open guy."
Is this loss difficult to take since the game was close at halftime?
"Every loss is tough. It doesn't matter if you lose by one or 50 points. It still hurts the same. We had opportunities. Turnovers killed us. My interceptions hurt. The second one was probably the turning point in the second half. If we limit those mistakes, we win the ball game."
What happened on his second interception?
"That's a mistake on my part. I saw it all the way, and they played cover two. I was trying to force the ball in there. I should have never thrown it. If I would have checked down, we would have been alright. I was trying to force something and make something happen."
